What's the Top Priority in Your Job?

Adam Grant has a pretty good post on LinkedIn regarding The #1 Feature of a Meaningless Job.  Spoiler alert, his answer is meaningful work.  As if you couldn't have guessed that from the headline.  There are many other good articles linked to Mr. Grant's article, so definitely worth the read.

I agree on most levels that meaningful work is a top priority for most.  As we spend roughly 1/3 of our lives at work, it stands to reason that we seek some sort of meaning out of it.  In trying to define what makes up meaningful work, the author(s) make a great point that work is generally considered meaningful when it makes a difference by helping others.  The clearer and more direct the link is between the work and seeing the result helping others, the more meaningful the work is generally perceived.  If the link is too distant from the people being helped, the less likely it is that the work will be perceived as meaningful.  As Susan Dominus explained, "The greatest untapped resource of motivation is a sense of service to others." 

One sticking point with the meaningful work concept is that it can't purely be defined by the work.  It's ultimately defined by the person.  While most people would agree that teachers, social workers, and police officers perform meaningful work, I'm sure there are people out there performing these jobs that aren't finding meaning in their work.  Meaningful work is a personal concept.  For these people, and for others with a much more distant link between their work and helping others, the author refers to a concept called job crafting, whereby you turn the job you have into the job you want.  Sounds good at face value and definitely worth the try.  I'm just not sure it works long-term.

One last thought.  While meaningful work is clearly a top priority for most people over the long run, I'd argue that job security and hours worked have moved up the list significantly since the Great Recession.  People who were without a job for months/years likely place a much higher value on job security now.  People who had to absorb multiple additional responsibilities of laid off co-workers likely place a premium now on time away from work with their family/friends.  In addition, with the Affordable Care Act presenting many cost challenges for individuals and small businesses, it's likely that benefits will move to the top of the list for some people too.